Hader Meltdown Keeps Mariners’ Hopes Alive: Angels Comeback Downs Astros 9-8

Hader gave up four runs, surrendering a one run lead in the ninth. But the Rangers came back to beat the Mariners to bring the Astros magic number down to two with the Ms coming to town.

The Astros were cruising.

The AL West pennant was as good as flying in Minute Maid.

Home runs by Jose Altuve (another 20-20 season for the future HOFer) and Alex Bregman gave the Astros a 4-0 lead going into the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, sometimes inconsistent Spencer Arrighetti was on a roll, mowing down the Halo bats until the sixth inning, when Zach Neto had his first home run and first two RBI for the day against Arrighetti to cut the Stros lead in half. Arrighetti ended up with six IP, allowing five hits, no walks, with six Ks. Neto ended up with two homers and six RBI.

Hector Neris came in for Arrighetti in the seventh inning. Those who thought the return of Neris meant the return of 2023 Hector Neris were sorely disappointed, as he allowed the Angels to tie the score with two runs in only 0.1 IP.

No prob. Bryan Abreu will hold the Angels and the Astros will grab back the lead, right? Nope. Neto struck again. HIs solo homer in the eighth put the Astros behind for the first time since inning four of game one in the four game series.

But the Astros weren’t finished. In the Astros’ eighth inning, Yainer Diaz doubled home Alex Bregman (both players ended with three hits), and with Diaz at third and one out, the Angels brought in lefty Brock Burke to face Astros lefty veteran Jason Heyward.

What should Manager Joe Espada do? Stay with the veteran or bring on the green right-handed rookie Shay Whitcomb. Whitcomb hadn’t batted in two weeks, and was 0-10 against lefties. Espada went with the rookie. And the rookie made the play of his life, slapping a hard RBI line drive to center to give the Astros the 6-5 lead.

Now, just give the ball to shutdown, $90 million reliever Josh Hader and start raising the flag.

Au contraire. It was the meltdown of all meltdowns, the mother of all meltdowns, starting with a lead off walk, and culminating in a three run double by — who else — Zack Neto. Hader walked two and allowed three hits while getting only one out. He had only one swing and miss out of 22 pitches and 14 strikes.

The Astros showed spirit in the bottom of the ninth, getting two runs with two outs, Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini getting RBI singles. But Jeremy Pena struck out for out three, leaving the Astros’ comeback effort one run short.

The Astros take on the Mariners tomorrow at MMP, 7:10 CT. Mariner ace Bryce Miller fights for the Mariner’s life against Hunter Brown. An Astro victory tomorrow clinches the AL West.

Box score HERE.